Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the
shoulders of giants.”
Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 36116
If have been more blessed than the man who
explained gravity for I have walked in
the company of giants. I have studied
with great men and great women. I have
sat in classrooms where genius was writing in a seat next to mine. I went to Alabama State University.
Last night I heard a member of my own ASU freshmen class of 1989
preach. Rev. Dr. Wendy Coleman delivered
a Word with song so spiritually deep that it brought silence to a BLACK
CHURCH! All we could do for a moment was
just weep wave our hands. Wendy taught
us and challenged us. She walked us
through (literally WALKED down the aisle with a bowl of fruit) God’s message of
Peace & Fruitfulness. And like all
master teachers, she provoked deeper thought and study, extending the lesson
beyond her words.
Which is how I found myself waking to re-examine
Mark 4: 40.
[After calming a storm on the sea, Jesus] said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How
is it that you have no faith?”
Why are you so fearful?
In the Book of Matthew, the word “fearful” is not
the same as the word “afraid.” Afraid is translated from the word phobeo, which refers to an act, moment, or emotion. Fearful
is the translation of the word deilos,
which refers more to a personality trait or a persistent state of being.
In Mark 4: 40, Jesus’ 1st question to His disciples could well
be translated, “Why ya’ll so scared all
the doggone time?”
The greatest obstacle to walking in powerful, mountain-moving faith is
not the onset of crises. The chief enemy
of greatness is not the momentary rise of difficult obstacles, the sudden
appearance of ruthless opposition, nor the unforeseen occurrence of heart-breaking
disappointment. No, the chief enemy of
greatness is BEING SCARED ALL THE DOGGONE TIME.
We’re afraid that the words aren’t quite right. We’re afraid that we’re not quite pretty enough
yet. We’re afraid they won’t like
us. We’re afraid she’ll/ he’ll say
something mean about it. And when there’s
nothing else to be afraid of, we’re afraid that it’s too easy.
Why you so scared all the doggone time?
Fear has 2 antidotes. One is FAITH
(Mark 4:40; Hebrews 11: 27; Revelations 2: 10).
Hebrews 11:27 By faith [Noah] forsook
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is
invisible.
Revelations 2:10 Do not fear
any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about
to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.
The other antidote to fear is LOVE. (2 Timothy 1: 7)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in
love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he
who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Why do you fail to live in the greatness you know is in you?
You scared.
Why don’t you walk in the promises God has made to you?
You scared.
You’re always afraid.
But, it’s O.K., now.
Now you have the cure for your fear.
LOVE. Love
God. Love people. Love even yourself. Love as you once feared, not just as a moment
of emotion, but as a way of life.
HAVE FAITH--- not just as an emotional I-believe-I-can-fly
moment in church, but have faith and live faith/ faithfully to God’s Word. Daily and continuously hold to God’s Commands
and Promises as TRUTH and as FACT.
See the greatness around you. Draw
inspiration and strength from the struggles and the achievements of the geniuses
and giants who walk the Earth today.
Love. Believe.
Don’t be scurred.
----- Anderson T. Graves II
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church
Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Email us at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
If you want to be a blessing to
this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order made out to: Hall Memorial CME Church
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 36116
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